The San Francisco Giants have a date for Madison Bumgarner's return to the mound.

Bumgarner will throw 70-75 pitches for San Francisco's San Jose affiliate on Thursday and then pitch for the Giants at AT&T Park on Tuesday.

That would mean Bumgarner could throw 90-95 pitches next week.

The Giants are scheduled to face the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday.

Noah Syndergaard has a strained index finger on his pitching hand and is headed to the 10-day disabled list.

Syndergaard was examined Tuesday back in New York after experiencing soreness in his right index finger. The DL stay is retroactive to May 26.

"He threw a side yesterday, and that's when he started noticing it, that [it] was sore," Mickey Callaway said. "He had some bruising at the base of his wrist, so we just said that he needs to get that checked out."

Callaway added that Syndergaard had "a little" soreness after his last start and that the pitcher would wear a splint on his finger to keep it immobilized.

The manager didn't seem to believe Syndergaard would miss much time.

"Right now, the goal is to rest it a couple of days and give him a bullpen this weekend," Callaway said. "After that, he should be all good."

Clayton Kershaw is one step closer to a return with the Dodgers.

Kershaw pitched a four-inning simulated game Saturday, raising the possibility that he could be back in their rotation next week. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner has been on the disabled list nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis.

Asked if he should be able to go in five days, Kershaw said: "Yeah, I should be.''

Giants ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner was sharp in his first rehabilitation start since breaking the pinkie on his pitching hand in March, striking out eight while throwing 47 pitches over 3 2/3 hitless innings for Triple-A Sacramento.

It was such an encouraging start that Bumgarner didn't rule out an immediate return to the Giants.

"I obviously didn't know before today, but judging off the way I felt out there, I think so, for sure," Bumgarner said. "I wouldn't say I'd be back and be in midseason form, but I feel definitely good enough to get some outs."

The Cubs placed Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list Saturday with right triceps tendinitis, continuing a rough season for the right-hander.

Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in his first season after finalizing a $126 million, six-year deal with the Cubs in February. He was slated to start the series finale against the Giants on Sunday night, but Tyler Chatwood will move up a day to take his place.

The New York Yankees have activated first baseman Greg Bird from the 10-day disabled list and demoted infielder Ronald Torreyes to the minors, meaning Tyler Austin will keep his spot on the 25-man roster.

Rich Hill, who lasted just two pitches on Saturday, doesn't know how to solve issues with blisters on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Hill was pulled in the first inning against the Washington Nationals with a recurrence of the blister problem that has already put him on the disabled list twice this season.

"It's frustrating as anything for me. To go out there and put the bullpen and team in this position," Hill said. "Unfortunately, I don't have answers at this time for the blister issue."

Hill said he felt something "break open" on his second-to-last warm-up pitch, and his fingernail was broken and bloody when he left the game.

"Just continued to pitch,'' he said. "I know at some point I'd have to come out."

The Washington Nationals have lost Howie Kendrick to a torn right Achilles tendon.

He will miss the remainder of the season.

Kendrick took an awkward step while retreating to catch a deep fly ball to left field in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. He could have surgery as early as Monday.

"Once I tried to put weight on it, I couldn't put any weight on it, really, and then I was like, 'Oh, crap, I'd better just sit down,'" Kendrick said. "That's when I really knew there was something wrong with it because I couldn't control my heel at all, so that's when I knew it was probably my Achilles."

Keynan Middleton will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

He had appeared in three games in four days for the Los Angeles Angels after a stint on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

Middleton had six saves for the Angels, compiling a 2.04 ERA while allowing only four runs in 16 appearances.

Miguel Cabrera believes that his efforts to play through injuries with the Detroit Tigers have been unappreciated and he is "done playing hurt."

Cabrera is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He was eligible to return on Monday but has experienced soreness in his back and hips.

"I went through that last year, so I don't want to do the same thing," Cabrera said. "Nobody appreciates you when you play hurt, so I'm going to take my time and play when I'm good. I played hurt a lot of years here in Detroit. They don't appreciate that."

Cabrera, 35, managed to play in 130 games last season despite dealing with back issues. He hit a career-low .249 with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs.

"When you are doing bad, they crush you. They crush you," he said. "They say you're bad, you should go home, you don't deserve anything, you're old. I say, 'OK, I'm done playing hurt.' Now I take my time."

Cabrera is in the third year of an eight-year, $248 million contract that is guaranteed through his age-40 season.